The Centurion's Confession (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 88 (on Matthew 27:54) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.LXXXIV.html

On the manner of the Lord's death, which drew the soldier to belief:

the centurion for this cause above all believed, because He died with power.

On the confession wrung from the soldier and the people after all their mockery, and on the tradition of his later martyrdom:

And the Centurion too then glorified God, saying, "Truly this was a righteous man. And the multitudes that came together to that sight, returned beating their breasts." ... So great was the power of the crucified, that after so many mockings, and scoffs, and jeers, both the centurion was moved to compunction, and the people. And some say that there is also a martyrdom of this centurion, who after these things grew to manhood in the faith.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 23:47) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/CALuke.htm

On the crucified Lord drawing the Gentile soldier to Himself, as He had foretold:

The words of our Lord seem now to be fulfilled, wherein He said, When I shall be lifted up I will draw all men unto Me. For when lifted upon the cross He drew to Him the thief and the centurion, besides some of the Jews also, of whom it follows, And all the people that came together smote their breasts.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

The Harmony of the Gospels, Book III (on Matthew 27:54) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvii.html

On the agreement of Matthew and Luke, that the centurion wondered at the Lord's death:

It is no contradiction here that Matthew says, that "The centurion and they that were with him, watching Jesus, feared when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done;" while Luke says, that he wondered at the giving up the ghost with a loud voice. For when Matthew adds, the things that were done, this gives full scope for Luke's expression, that he wondered at the Lord's death, for this among the rest was wonderful.

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 27:54) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvii.html

On the soldier confessing at the cross what Arius would afterward deny:

Observe, that in the very midst of the offence of His passion the Centurion acknowledges the Son of God, while Arius in the Church proclaims Him a creature.

St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 23:47) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/CALuke.htm

On the Gentile officer believing while the hardness of the Jews remained unmoved:

O the breasts of the Jews, harder than the rocks! The judge acquits, the officer believes, the traitor by his death condemns his own crime, the elements flee away, the earth quakes, the graves are opened; the hardness of the Jews still remains immoveable, though the whole world is shaken.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 23:47) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/CALuke.htm

On the Gentiles confessing openly where the synagogue kept silent:

But we may observe, that the Gentiles fearing God glorify Him with works of public confession; the Jews only striking their breasts returned silent home.

On the centurion as a figure of the faith of the Church:

Rightly then by the centurion is the faith of the Church signified, which in the silence of the synagogue bears witness to the Son of God.